Narvel (Joel Edgerton) cares for the garden at the luxury home of Mrs Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver). During his preparations of the garden for the Spring Charity Auction, word is received that Mrs. Haverhill would like to speak privately with Narvel. Upon their meeting, Mrs. Haverhill requests a favour relating to her niece Maya (Quintessa Swindell), who has gotten into trouble and is going off the rails. Narvel is asked to take Maya on as a new apprentice, training her on how to attend to a garden and teaching her a variety of things such as the history of gardening. Without hesitation, Narvel accepts.
Upon Narvel’s meeting with Maya, he explains what’s been asked of him, detailing all the rules and procedures. Maya is surprised and even has a slight chuckle, but soon, she pulls herself in line and willingly accepts Narvel’s terms and outlines. However, we soon discover there’s more to Maya’s current lifestyle, and Narvel finds himself getting involved while carrying a darker past and secret. Soon, secret details from Narvel’s past begin to surface due to his recent involvement in trying to help Maya. Can Narvel remain in the shadows, or will his entire past come to light?
Master Gardener is best described as a slow-burning drama with minor moments of mystery, and was directed by Paul Schrader, best known for Taxi Driver, The Card Counter, and First Reformed. The film opens with a simple storyline: Narvel is to teach and educate Maya in gardening. But like some of the Director’s past films, we soon learn there is far more to this story and the leading characters than we were initially led to believe. As viewers enter the halfway mark in the film, they’ll find themselves witnessing a dramatic change and shift in the storyline and significant character developments.
[mailerlite_form form_id=1]Visually, I was pleased with Schrader’s work once again. The film is well shot, with plenty of great moments, mystery, tension, and drama. Even though the pace was slow, I continued to question everyone’s past and the possible outcomes for each character. There were plenty of unexpected reveals. Sigourney Weaver and Joel Edgerton are strong, particularly Edgerton as Narvel. It’s highly believable that he carries an overflowing knowledge and passion for gardening. Viewers are treated to his inner thoughts at various moments as he attempts to sleep or write in his daily journal. Actress Quintessa Swindell as Maya is a weaker element, as is the relationship that develops with Narvel, which sometimes feels awkward and off-putting to witness. While slow-paced, the first half of this film was engaging and enjoyable. The story made me curious and invested. Sadly, as the movie progressed, I found the storyline of the film’s second half far more uninteresting, and I began to lack in investment, sometimes feeling bored.
Overall, it is great to see Director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, The Card Counter, etc.) deliver another slow-burning drama with minor moments of mystery. The gardening themes are great, and the surprising reveals about the leading characters are also interesting enough that you can’t help but be curious. Performances from Joel Edgerton and Sigourney Weaver are solid, and I found the first half of this film engaging and fascinating to watch unfold. Sadly, the film’s second half didn’t grab me as firmly, and at times, it didn’t feel exciting or interesting. The story changed dramatically, making the second half far more challenging to sit through. Actress Quintessa Swindell, as Maya, felt more off-putting and awkward at various times. Ultimately, Master Gardener is a mixed bag with ingredients that I generally enjoyed, but sadly, there were a few weeds among the film’s beauty and concept.
5.4/10
4th December 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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